Alternative Farming Systems Information Center

The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices in support of USDA's effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide.

Searching for farm or research funding? A variety of Federal, state and local agencies and non-governmental organizations have agricultural funding programs for beginning and experienced farmers, researchers, local governments, and others who meet program qualifications.

AFSIC History TimelineAFSIC, founded in 1985, is an integral part of the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in Beltsville, Maryland. The Center was one of the first USDA programs to focus on sustainable and organic agriculture and produced many ground-breaking bibliographies and related reference guides that enabled researchers, educators and producers to access previously difficult-to-find international research, literature and expertise. More...

Definitions and History of Sustainable Agriculture
The USDA has defined sustainable agriculture - but underlying the definition are diverse and sometimes controversial views of sustainability. Explore a variety of approaches and practices, current and past, to appreciate where agriculture is going in the future. More...

History of Organic Agriculture
Trace the origins of the organic agriculture movement through historic publications and reports, oral histories, video archives, USDA legislation and regulations, and other published resources. More...

Tracing the Evolution of Organic / Sustainable Agriculture
Discover the philosophical and scientific roots of sustainable, regenerative agriculture through readings dating from the 1500s. More...